Westboro Baptist Church

Westboro Baptist Church, The Supreme Court hears a landmark case called Wednesday. In Snyder v. Phelps, a grieving father and a controversial religious group will present their case before the court to ask whether the church group has the right to demonstrate at military funerals, despite the disturbing and upsetting mourners, and Despite presenting a message most Americans were reluctant.

According to their “About Us” section on their website, Westboro Baptist Church, a fundamentalist Topeka, Kansas church, engaged in what they call peaceful demonstrations sidewalk waving signs that say, among other things: “God hate America, “” God thank you, For the troops Dead “and” Thank God for AIDS. ”

The Reverend Fred Phelps and his followers believe that all the ills of America was facing, from 9 / 11 to Hurricane Katrina, the rod of God by turning back the Americans for tolerating hmosxlity. They demonstrated in front of the many events that believe glorify hmosxlity, but a military funeral are what they are best known for. According to their website, they target the soldiers because they volunteered to join and fight for a country badly that God has “abandoned … is fighting against. ”

They demonstrated in front of hundreds of funeral Wednesday of the Supreme Court appearance following a demonstration at Arlington National Cemetery, the last stop on what they call their “I-70 Godsmack Tour.” They will appear in court Wednesday for one in particular: the funeral of Marine Corporal Matthew Snyder, who died in 2006 while serving in Iraq. The Marine was killed in a Humvee accident.

“The worst thing I struggle with now is the anger at the Phelps to remove the last moment that Matt was here on Earth,” Lance Cpl. Snyder’s father, Albert Snyder said. Westboro Baptist Church picketed burial.

Snyder then stole one and 11 million verdict for intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other claims. A judge reduced the award to $ 5 million and the Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, threw the verdict entirely, citing the church first amendment rights.

“No American should ever be necessary to apologize for the rest of his or her conscience,” said Margie Phelps, daughter of Fred Phelps and the lawyer who argued the case for the church. Many in the family Phelps, who constitute the majority of the church, are also lawyers or law school.

For Snyder, the case is not about free speech, but harassment. “I had a chance to bury my son and it was taken from me,” said Snyder.

The case pits Wednesday Snyder right to grieve in private against the right of church members to say what they want, no matter how offensive.

Forty-eight states, 42 U.S. senators and veterans groups have rallied to Snyder, ask the court to protect the funeral of the Phelpses “psychological t*rror*sm”.

In addition to protesting against Arlington National Cemetery, some church members protested Wednesday in front of the court with the same cards they use at military funerals. A young boy holds up a sign that says: “. God Hates You”

“Someone told me:” five million dollars I bet you have to renounce Matt back. “I give him just to say goodbye,” said Snyder.